William



(No Model.)

. W. O. BURGUM. DETAGHABLB HANDLE AND LIFTER.

N6. 664,469.; Patented July 21-, 1896.

- UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAH (J. BURGUM, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRITTAN, GRAHAM & MATHES COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DETACHABLE HANDLE AND LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,469, dated July 21, 1896.

Application filed AprillO, 1896- Serial No. 587,018- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. BURGUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Handles and Lifters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in detachable handles and lifters especially designed for cooking utensils; but owing to the construction of my device it may be advantageously employed for lifting or moving other and larger vessels than those usually employed for cooking purposes, such as pots and kettles used for various manufacturing purposes.

Many handles and lifters heretofore made are in the form of tongs and give rise to many objections.

The object of my invention is the production of a durable, cheap, and simple device that can be readily applied to a vessel and as readily removed therefrom when desired.

With this end in view my invention consists, in general terms, of a single handle having automatic gripping-jaws securely attached at one end and a springactuated thumb-piece for locking the jaws against the vessel or object to be grasped when the same is held by the jaws, all as more fully hereinafter described and particularly claimed.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a side view showing my invention as gripping a cooking utensilgFig. 2, a side view, partly in section, showing the jaws open; and Fig. 3, a top plan view.

Referring to the drawings, a is the handle, made of wood or metal, as may be desired, and of any desirable shape and size. Near the forward end the handle, on either side, is provided with cut-away portions a. The forward end of the handle terminates in an enlarged part I), having an upwardly-inclined face 1), extending at right angles to the handle, and which constitutes the lower stationary jaw of the two clamping-jaws.

c are plates set into the cut-away portions of the handle, and each is provided with an ear d.

e is the upper movable jaw. This jaw is pivoted to the handle a at a point 00, and for this purpose the jaw is bifurcated at its inner end, the two parts passing down on either side of the handle and the plates 0, and the pivot passing through the two parts, the plates 0 and the handle. The upper jaw is so hung that in its normal position it is closed upon the face 5 of the lower jaw b.

In order that the jaws may not scratch the vessel, as they would in some cases were they both made of metal, it is preferable to insert a block of wood f in the upper jaw.

g is a spring-actuated thumb-piece and is set between the ears d of the plates. A crossslot h is formed in the upper jaw e and is so situated that when the thumb piece 9 is pressed forward it enters this slot, thereby locking the jaws together.

2' is a fiat metal spring located on the handle a between the two plates 0, and one end of which is securely fastened to the handle.

Its other end is coiled and held in place by the ears d. A slight depression 6 is cut out of the handle about midway the length of the spring and under it to afford room for its operation. The coiled part of the spring presses slightly against the thumb-piece when the same is not pressed forward, and in doing so causes the thumb-piece to be held in a position above the handle to be readily moved forward when desired. The thumb-piece g is provided with a downwardly-projecting lug, against which the pressure of the spring is exerted when the thumb-piece is moved forward and backward. When the thumbpiece is pressed forward, the spring holds it down against the upper jaw and also holds it in proper position after it has been freed from the jaw and pushed back.

In order that the clamping-jaws may be readily applied and grip the object, the movable upper jaw is provided at its nose with an outwardly-curved lip i and the other part of the same jaw is curved to correspond to the sel, the upper pivoted jaw is thrown upward and backward, the rim is entered between the jaws, the face of the lower jaw presses against the outside of the vessel, and the pivoted jaw is then thrown forward over the rim, which is clamped between the nose of the pivoted jaw and the face of the stationary jaw. In this position the side of the vessel acts as a fulcrum by which the pressure of the handle is exerted upwardly against the nose of the movable jaw. The action of the jaws to this extent is automatic, and it is not necessary when it is simply desired to move or lift the vessel from one position to another to lock the jaws; but when it is desired to lift and turn the vessel or to partly turn it in order to pour out its contents or a portion of its contents, then the thumb-piece is pressed forward and the clamping jaws securely locked, thereby securing a more rigid grip on the vessel and permitting it to be turned withoutfear of the handle becoming detached.

'ject to be lifted opposite the face of the lower jaw, whereby a vessel may be automatically gripped between the said jaws, and means on the handle forlocking the jaws, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. BURGUM. \Vitn esses:

W. G. DOOLITTLE, JOHN M. PRESCOTT, Jr. 

